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St Pete man builds gun range in yard, neighbors outraged

This is the result of the constant ranting and political power of the NRA. St Petersburg FL has no law, regulation or ordinance that would stop this person, or any other person, from building a shooting range on their property, no matter how close it is to another person's residence.

ST PETERSBURG, FL (WFLA) -
The Lakewood Estates neighborhood is filled with families and children. On any given day, you'll see kids climbing trees and playing on swing sets. That's why news of a residential gun range did not sit well with neighbors.

“I don't know if this idiot is going to start popping off rounds,” said Patrick Leary. “I'm furious.”

Moms and dads are extremely upset after their 21-year-old neighbor, Joseph Carannate, told them he built a homemade gun range.

“I don't want to hurt myself or any neighbors. I don't want to hurt anybody. I just want to use this as my enjoyment,” Carannate told News Channel 8. “I don't want to have to go to a gun range, when I can just go outside my door.”

Here's the fun part

According to St. Petersburg Police, legally he's allowed to do it. ... police admit they've been to Carannate's home and that he is obeying the law. They tell us they will “monitor the situation closely.”

Florida law allows people to build and maintain shooting ranges in their backyards. And unless an owner becomes negligent or reckless, there's nothing a neighbor can do.

For example:

* There's no restriction on the type of firearms or ammunition that can be used in a backyard shooting range.

* There's no restriction on the time of day or night your neighbors can use their gun range.

* And there's no restriction on gun ranges near a public school, day-care center or neighborhood playground. Talk about the need for duck-and-cover lessons.

Influence of the NRA is noted

The law allowing home gun ranges has been on the books for 27 years. However, as local governments began passing ordinances that banned them, the National Rifle Association convinced state lawmakers in 2011 to fight back. Now, local leaders who create restrictive ordinances face fines of $5,000 per offense. They can even be removed from office and forced to pay their own legal fees if sued over a gun ordinance.
<snip>
"The Florida Attorney General has confirmed cities are powerless to protect residents from firearm target shooting in dense urban residential neighborhoods,

“And I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in shewing that religion & Govt will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.”
~ James Madison, letter to Edward Livingston, July 10, 1822

Re: St Pete man builds gun range in yard, neighbors outraged

Originally Posted by SlevinKelevra

Where did TFA say that?

I assume from the OP that this quote----"...police admit they've been to Carannate's home and that he is obeying the law." means that Police inspected the property, and the range on it, not only for specific regulation concerning the safety issue of shooting, but the safety of surrounding homes, and neighbors....

So, are you implying that Police didn't do their job when they investigated?

Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.
Alexis de Tocqueville

Re: St Pete man builds gun range in yard, neighbors outraged

Originally Posted by j-mac

I assume from the OP that this quote----"...police admit they've been to Carannate's home and that he is obeying the law." means that Police inspected the property, and the range on it, not only for specific regulation concerning the safety issue of shooting, but the safety of surrounding homes, and neighbors....

So, are you implying that Police didn't do their job when they investigated?

No, I'm saying that something can be in compliance with the law {legal} AND NOT BE SAFE because the law doesn't require safe conditions.

Re: St Pete man builds gun range in yard, neighbors outraged

Originally Posted by j-mac

I assume from the OP that this quote----"...police admit they've been to Carannate's home and that he is obeying the law." means that Police inspected the property, and the range on it, not only for specific regulation concerning the safety issue of shooting, but the safety of surrounding homes, and neighbors....

So, are you implying that Police didn't do their job when they investigated?

Evidently you didn't read the following from the OP

"The Florida Attorney General has confirmed cities are powerless to protect residents from firearm target shooting in dense urban residential neighborhoods,

“And I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in shewing that religion & Govt will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.”
~ James Madison, letter to Edward Livingston, July 10, 1822

Re: St Pete man builds gun range in yard, neighbors outraged

In the case of C.C. v. State of Florida, the Fourth District Court of Appeal addressed this:

Appellant was arrested after discharging a revolver into the ground in his friend's fenced backyard. He was charged with possession of a firearm by a minor and discharging a firearm in a public place. We reverse the conviction for discharging a firearm in a public place, as it is clear that the backyard of one's home does not constitute a public place within the meaning of section 790.15(1), Florida Statutes

“And I have no doubt that every new example will succeed, as every past one has done, in shewing that religion & Govt will both exist in greater purity, the less they are mixed together.”
~ James Madison, letter to Edward Livingston, July 10, 1822

Re: St Pete man builds gun range in yard, neighbors outraged

"The Florida Attorney General has confirmed cities are powerless to protect residents from firearm target shooting in dense urban residential neighborhoods,

Oh I read it, and for the record, I don't think that shooting in your backyard at a 3ft high berm is the smartest thing to be doing....But, if you are in disagreement of the law, then work to change the law....

Americans are so enamored of equality that they would rather be equal in slavery than unequal in freedom.
Alexis de Tocqueville